A narrative of the proceedings of the black people, during the late awful calamity in Philadelphia, in the year 1793 : and a refutation of some censures, thrown upon them in some late publications

NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
Washington

Founded 1836

U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

Public Health Service

A

NARRATIVE

OF THE

PR OCEEDINGS

OF THB

BLACK PEOPLE,

DURING THE LATE

Awful Calamity in Philadelphia,

IN THE YEAR 1793:

AND

A REFUTATION

OF SOME -* ' - ,. «w»^

CENSURES, k L* ^T# 4 j\^

Thrown upon them in feme late Publications.

BY A. J. AND R. A-

> ' 'n"V +

PHItAflltPHU t MUNTED FOfc T&E AUTHORS,

ST WILLIAM W. WOODWARD, AT FRANKLIN' s HEASt
NO. 41, CHESNUT-STREET.

1794-

No. 54.

Suiforict of <tPe7infy&ania> to wit.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-third
day of January, in the eighteenth year of the Inde-
pendence of the United States ot America, Abfalom Jones
and Richard Allen, both of the faid Diftrift, have depofited
in this office, the title of a book, the right whereof they
claim as authors and proprietors, in the words following,
to wit : " A Narrative of the Proceedings of the Black People,
during the late awful Calamity in Philadelphia^ hi the year
1793 : and a Refutation offofue Cenfures thrown upon them in
fome late Publications. By A. J. & R. A." In conformity to
the aft of the Congrefs of the United States, intitled, "An
act for the encouragement of learning, by fecuring the co-
pies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprie-
tors of fuch copies, during the times therein mentioned."

Clerk of the Diftritf ofPennfylvama.

T mf.

A NARRATIVE, &c.

I

N confequence of a partial representation of the
conduft of the people who were employed to nurfe
the tick, in the late calamitous ftate of the city of
Philadelphia, we are folicited, by a number of thofe
who feel themfelves injured thereby, and by the ad-
vice of feveral refpectable citizens, to ftep forward and
declare facts as they really were ; feeing that from our
fituation, on account of the charge we took upon us,
we had it more fully and generally in our power, to
know and obferve the conduct and behavior of thofe that
were fo employed.

Early ki September, a Solicitation appeared in the
public papers, to the people of colour to come forward
and aflift the diftrefled, periihing, and neglected fick ;
with a kind of afiurance, that people of our colour
were not liable to take the infection. Upon which we
and a few others met and coniulted how to act on fo
truly alarming and melancholy an occafion. After
fome converfation, we found a freedom to go forth,
confiding in him who can preferve in the midfl of a
burning fiery furnace, fenfible that it was our duty to
do all the good we could to our Suffering fellow mor-
tals. We let out to fee where we could be ufeful.
The firft we vifited was a man in Emlley's alley, who
was dying, and his wife lay dead at the time in the
houfe, there were none to aflift but two poor helplefs
children. We adminiftered what relief we could, and
applied to the overfeers of the poor to have the woman
buried. We vifited upwards of twenty families that

A 2

4 A NARRATIVE, &c

<5ay — they were fcenes of woe indeed ! The Lord
was pleafed to ilrengthen us, and remove all fear from
us, and difpofed our hearts to be as ulcful as poflible.

In order the better to regulate our conduct, we cat-
led on the mayor next day, to confult with him how to
proceed, lb as to be molt ufeful. The firlt object he
recommended was a ftricl attention to the lick, and the
procuring of nurles. This was attended to by Abfa-
lom Jones and William Gray ; and, in order that the
diflrelied might know where to apply, the mayor ad-
vertifed the public that upon application to them they
would be fupplied. Soon after, the mortality increaf-
ing, the difficulty of getting acorpfe taken away, was
fuch, that few were willing to do it, when offered
great rewards. The black people were looked to. We
then offered our fervices in the public papers, by ad-
vertifing that we would remove the dead and procure
rmrfes. Our fervices were the production of real fen-
fibility • — we fought not fee nor reward, until the in-
ereafe of the dilbrder rendered our labour fo arduous
that we were not adequate to the fervice we had affirm-
ed. The mortality increafing rapidly, obliged us to
call in the alliftance of five* hired men, in the awful
difcharge of interring the dead. They, with great
reluctance, were prevailed upon to join us. It was
very uncommon, at this time, to find any one that
would go near, much more, handle, a lick or dead
perfon.

Mr. Carey, in page 106 of his third edition, has
obferved, that, " for the honor of human nature, it
ought to be recorded, that fome of the convicts in the
gaol, a part of the term of whofe confinement had
been remitted as a reward for their peaceable, orderly
behavior, voluntarily offered themlielves as nurles to
attend the fick at Bum-hill; and have, in that capaci-
ty, conducted themfelves with great fidelity, &c Here

* Two of whom were Richard Allen's brothers.

A NARRATIVE, &c 5

it otight to be remarked, (although Mr. Carey hath
not done it) that two thirds of the perfons, who ren-
dered thefe eflential fer vices, were people of colour,
who, on the application of the elders of the African
church, (who met to confider what they could do for
the help of the lick) were liberated, on condition of
their doing the duty of nurfes at the hofpital at Bufh-
hill; which they as voluntarily accepted to do, as they
did faithfully difcharge, this fevere and difagreeable

duty May the Lord reward them,, both temporally

and fpiritually.

When the licknefs became general, and feveral of
the phyficians died, and moft of the furvivors were ex-
haufted by licknefs or fatigue ; that good man, Doctor
Rufh, called us more immediately to attend upon the
fick, knowing we could both bleed ; he told us we
could increafe our utility, by attending to his inftruc-
tions, and accordingly directed us where to procure
medicine duly prepared,, with proper directions how
to adminifter them, and at what ftages of the diforder
to bleed ; and whe» we found ourlelves incapable of
judging what was proper to be done, to apply to him,
and he would, if able, attend them himfelf, or fend
Edward Fifher, his pupil, which he often did ; and Mr.
Filher manifefted his humanity, by an affectionate at-
tention for their relief. — This has been no fmall fatis-
faction to us ; for, we think, that when a phyfician
was not attainable, we have been the inftruments, in
the hand of God, for faving the lives of fome hundreds
of ourfuffering fellow mortals.

We feel ourfelves fenfibly aggrieved by the cenfori-
ous epithets of many, who did not render the leaft af-
fiftance in the time, of neceflity, yet are liberal of their
cenfure of us, for the prices paid for our fervices, when
no one knew how to make a propofal to any one they
wanted to aflift them. At firft we made no charge,
but left it to thofe we ferved in removing their dea4>

A3

6 A NARRATIVE, &c

to give what they thought fit — we let no price, until
the reward was fixed by thofe we had ferved. Afrer
paying the people we" had toaflift us, our compeulation
ismuch lefs than many will believe.

We do allure the public, that all the money we have
received, for burying, and for coffins which we our-
felves purchafed and procured, has not defrayed the
expence of wages which we had to pay to thofe whom
we employed to aflat us. 1 he following flatement is
accuratelv made :

CASH RECEIVED.
The whr le amount of Calh we received
for ourying the dead, and for burying
beds, is, ^.233 10 4

CASH PAID.
For coffins, for which we have

received nothing - £'ZZ ° °

For the hire ot five men, 3 of
them 70 days each, and the
other two, 63 days each,
at 22/6 per day, - - ■ - 378 o o

411

Debts due us, for which we. expect
but little, - £.1 10 o o

From this ftatement, for the truth of
which we folemnjy vouch, it is evi-
dent, and we fenu'bly feel the opera-
tion of the fait, that we are out of
pocket, - - - • £-*77 9 %

Befides'the cofts of hearfes, the maintenance of our
families for 70 days, (being the period of our labours)
and the fupport of the five hired men, during the re-
Jpeftive times of their being employed ; which expen-
ce s, together with fundry gifts we occafionally made to
poor families, might reafonably and properly be intro-

A NARRATIVE, &c 7
duced", to mew our actual fituation with regard to pro-
fit but it is enough to exhibit to the public, from the

above fpecified items, of Cafh paid and Cafh received,
without taking into view the other expences, that, by
the employment we were engaged in, we have loft
£.ijj 9 8. But, if the other expences, which we
have actually paid, are added to that fum, how much
then may we not fay we have fuffered ! We leave the
public to judge.

It may poifibly appear ftrange to fome who know-
how conftantly we were employed, that we ihould
have received no more Cam than £-233 10 4. But
we repeat our afluranqe, that this is the fact, and we
add another, which will ferve the better to explain it :
We have buried fever al hundreds of poor perfons and
ftrangers, for which fervice we have never received,
nor never alked any compenfation.

We feel ourfelves hurt moft by a partial, cenforious
paragraph, in Mr. Carey's fecond edition, of his ac-
count of the ficknefs, &c in Philadelphia ; pages 76
and jj, where he afperies the blacks alone, for having
taken the advantage of the diftrefled fituation of the
people. That fome extravagant prices were pa:d, we
admit ; but how came they to be demanded? the rea-
fon is plain. It was with difficulty perfons could be
had to fupply the wants of the fick, as nurfes ; — ap-
plications became more and more numerous, the confe-
quence was, when we procured them at fix dollars per
week, and called upon them to go where they were
wanted, we found they were gone elfewhere ; here
was a difappointment ; upon enquiring the caufe, we
found, they had been allured away by others who of-
fered greater wages, until they got from two to four
dollars per day. We had no reftraint upon the peo-
ple. It was natural for people in low circumftances
to accept a voluntary, bounteous reward; efpecially
under the loathibmnel's of many of the lick, when na-

8 A NARRATIVE, ic.

ture fhuddered at the thoughts of the infection, and
the talk ailigned was aggravated by lunacy, and being
left much alone with them. Had Mr. Carey been fo-
liated to fuch an undertaking, for hire, Query, " what
would he have demanded ? but Mr. Carey, although
chol'en a member of that band of worthies who have
fo eminently diftinguifhed themfelves by their labours,
for the relief of the lick and helplefs — yet, quickly after
his election, left them to druggie with their arduous
and hazardous talk, by leaving the city. 'Tis true
Mr. Carey was no hireling, and had a right to flee,
and upon his return, to plead the caufe of thofe
who iled ; yet, we think, he was wrong in
giving fo partial and injurious an account of the
black nurfes ; if they have taken advantage of
the public diitrefs? Is it any more than he hath done
of its delire for information. We believe he has
made more money by the fale of his "fcraps" than a
dozen of the greateft extortioners among the black
nurfes. The great prices paid did not efcape the ob-
fervation of that worthy and vigilant magiftrate, Ma*
thew Clarkfon, mayor of the city, and prelident of
the committee — he fent for us, and requeited we would,
ufe our influence>to lelTen the wages of the nurfes, but
on informing him the caufe, i. e. that of the people over-
bidding one another, k was concluded unnecell'ary to
attempt any thing on that head ; therefore it was left
to the people concerned. That there were fome few
black people guilty of plundering the diftreffed, we
acknowledge ; but in that they only are pointed out,
and made mention of, we efteem partial and injurious j
we know as many whites who were guilty of it ; but
this is looked over, while the blacks are held up to cen-
fure.— Is it a greater crime for a black to pilfer, than,
for a white to privateer ?

We wifh not to offend, but when an unprovoked at-
tempt is made, to make us blacker than we are, it be-
comes lefs neceflary to be over cautious on that ac-

A NARRATIVE, &c. 9

count ; therefore we mall take the liberty to tell of the
conduct of fome of the whites.

We know fix pounds was demanded by, and paid,
to a white woman, for putting a corpfe into a coffin •
and forty dollars was demanded, and paid, to four
white men, for bringing it down the flairs.

Mr. and Mrs. Taylor both died in one night ; a
white woman had the care of them ; after they were
dead fhe called on Jacob Servofs, efq. for her pay,
demanding fix pounds for laying them out ; upon lee-
ing a bundle with her, he iufpected fhe had pilfered;
on fearching her, Mr. Taylor's buckles were found
. in her pocket, with other things.

An elderly lady, Mrs. Malony, was given into the
care of a white woman, fhe died, we were called to
remove the corpfe, when we came the woman was lay-
ing lb drunk that fhe did not know what we were do-
ing, but we know fhe had one of Mrs. Malony's rings
on her finger, and another in her pocket.

Mr. Carey tells us, Bum-hill exhibited as wretched
a picture of humanmifery, as ever exifled. A. profit,
gate abandoned fet of nurfes and attendants (hardly
any of good character could at that time be procured,)
rioted on the provifions and comforts, prepared for the
fick, who (unlefs at the hours when the doctors attend-
ed) were left almoft entirely deftitute of every aflifl-
ance. The dying and dead were indifcriminately
mingled together. The ordure and other evacuations
of the fick, were allowed to remain in the mofl offen-
five flate imaginable. Not the fmalleft appearance of
order or regularity exifled. It was in fact a great hu-
man flaughter houfe, where numerous victims were
immolated at the altar of intemperance.

It is unpleafant to point out the bad and unfeeling
conduct of any colour, yet the defence we have under-
taken obliges us to remark, that although "hardly any
of good character at that time could be procured" yet
only two black women were at this time hi the hofpi-

io A NARRATIVE, &c

tal, and they were retained and the others difcharg-
ed, when it was reduced to order and good govern-
ment.

The bad con fcquences many of our colour apprehend
from a partial relation of our conduct are, that it will
prejudice the mindb of rhe people in general againft us
— becaufe ir is impofiible that one individual, can have
knowledge of all, therefore at fome future day, when
fome of the rao ft virtuous, that were upon mofi: praife-
worthy motives, induced to ferve the lick, may fall in-
to the fervice of a family thai are flrangers to him, or
her, a<:d it is d d that it is one of thofe fiigmatif-

ed wrerchej, what any we fuppofe will be the con-
fequence? I; it not reasonable to think thepcif'on will
be abhored, defpifed, and perhaps difmifled from em-
ployment, to their great difadvantage, would not this
be hard? and have we not therefore fufficient reafon
to feek tor redrefs? We can with certainty allure the
public that we have feen more humanity, more teal
fenfibility from the poor blacks, than from -the po*.r
whites. When many of the former, of their own ac-
cord rendered fervices where extreme necetiity called
for it, the general part of the poor white people were
fo difmayed, that inftead of attempting to be uftful,

they in a manner hid themfelves a remarkable in-

ftance of this A poor aikicTred dying man, flood at

his chamber window, praying and beleeching every one
that palled by, to help him to a drink of water ; a num-
ber of white people palled, and in Head of being moved
by the poor man's diftrefs, they hurried as faft as they
could out of the found of his cries — until at length a
gentleman, who leemed to be a foreigner came up,
he could not pafsby, but had not relolution enough to
go into the houfe, he held eight dollars in his hand, and
offered it tofeveral as a reward for giving the poor
man a drink of water, but was refufed by every one,
until a poor black man came up, the gentleman offer-
ed the eight dollars to him, if he would relieve the

-

A NARRATIVE, &c, n

poor man with a little water, " Mafter" replied the
good natured fellow, " I will fupply the gentleman
with water, but furely I will not take your money for
it" nor could he be prevailed upon to accept his boun-
ty : he went in, fupplied the poor object with water,
and rendered him every fervice he could.

A poor black man, named Sampfon, wentconftantly
from houfe to houfe where diflrefs was, and no afftft-
ance without fee or reward ; he was fmote with the
diforder, and died, after his death -his family were
neglected by thole he had lerved.

Sarah Bafs, a poor black widow, gave all the afTift-
ance fhe could, in feveral families, for which me did
not receive any thing ; and when any thing was offer-
ed her, ihe left it to the option of thofe fiie ferved.

A woman of our colour, nurfed Richard Mafon and
fon, when they died, Richard's widow confidering
the rifk the poor woman had run, and from obferving
the fears that fometimes refted on her mind, expected
fhe would have demanded fomething confiderable, but
upon afking what ihe demanded, her reply was half
a dollar per day. Mrs. Mafon, intimated it was not
fufficient for her attendance, ihe replied it was enough
"for what fhe had done, and would take no more. Mrs.
Mafon's feelings were fuch, that ihe fettled an annui-
ty of fix pounds a year, on her, for life. Her name is
Mary Scott.

An elderly black woman nurfed with great

diligence and attention; when recovered he aiked what
he muft give for her fervices fhe replied " a din-
ner mafter on a cold winter's day/' and thus ihe went
from place to place rendering every fervice in her pow-
er without an eye to reward.

A young black woman, was requefted to attend one
night upon a white man and his wife, who were very
ill, no other perfon could be had ; — great wages were
offered her — ihe replied, I will not go for money, if I

12 A NARRATIVE, ix.

go for money God will fee it, and may be make me
take the diforder and die, but if I go, and take no
money, he may fpare my life. She went about nine
o'clock, and found them both on the floor ; fhe could
procure no candle or other light, but ftaid with them
about two hours, and then left them. They both di*
ed that night. She was afterward very ill with the
fever — her life was fpared.

Caefar Cranchal, a black man, offered his fervices
to attend the lick, and faid, I will not take your mo-
ney, I will not fell my life for money. Tt is faid he
died with the flux.

A black lad, at the Widow Gilpin's, was intruded
with his young Mailer's keys, on his leaving the city,
and tranfafted his bufinefs, with the greatelt honefty,
and dilpatch, having unloaded a veifel for him in the
time, and loaded it again.

A woman, that nurfed David Bacon, charged with
exemplary moderation, and faid me would not have
any more*

Tt may be faid, in vindication of the conduft of
thofe, who difcovered ignorance or incapacity in nurf-
ing, that it is, in itfelf, a confiderable art, derived
from experience, as well as the exercife of the finer
feelings of humanity — this experience, nine tenths of
thofe employed, it is probable were wholly ftran-
gers to.

We do not recollect fuch afts of humanity from the
poor white people, in all the round we have been en-
gaged in. We could mention many other inftances of
the like nature, but think it needlefs.

It is unpleafant for us to make thefe remarks, but
juftice to our colour, demands it. Mr. Carey pays
William Gray and us a compliment ; he fays, our fer-
vices and others of their colour, have been very great
&o By naming us, he leaves thefe others, in the
hazardous ftate of being clafTed with thofe who are,

A NARRATIVE, &c 13

lied the " vileft." The few that were difcovered
' merit public cenfure, were brought to juflice, which
lght to have fufficed, without being canvafled over
his " Trifle" of a pamphlet — which caufes us to be
ore particular, and endeavour to recall the efteem of
le public for our friends, and the people of colour,
1 far as they may be found worthy ; for we conceive,
id experience proves it, that an ill name is eafier
ven than taken away. We have many unprovoked
lemies, who begrudge us the liberty we enjoy, and
:e glad to hear of any complaint againft our colour,
e it juft or unjuft ; in confequence of which we are
more earneftly endeavouring all in our power, to warn,
rebuke, and exhort our African friends, to keep a con-
science void of offence towards God and man ; and, at
tie fame time, would not be backward to interfere,
when ftigmas or opprefhon appear pointed at, or at-
smpted againft them, unjuftly; and, we are confident,
re /hall ftand justified in the fight of the candid and
udicious, for fuch conduct.

Mr. Carey's firft, fecond, and third editions, are gone
forth into the world, and in all probability, have been,
ead by thoufands that will never read his fourth —
onfequently, any alteration he may hereafter make,
in the paragraph alluded to, cannot have the defired
•ffect, or atone for the pad ; therefore we apprehend
it neceflary to publifli our thoughts on the occa-
sion. Had Mr. Carey fait, a number of white
ind black Wretches eagerly feized on the oppor-
tunity to extort from the diftrefled, and fome few of
both were detected in plundering the fick, it might
extenuate, in a great degree, the having made men-
tion of the blacks.

We can aflure the public, there were as many white
as black people, detected in pilfering, although the
number of the latter, employed as nurfes, was twenrp
times as great as the former, and that there is, in our

B

i4 A NARRATIVE, &c.

opinion, as great a proportion of white, as of black,
inclined to fuch practices. It is rather to be admired,
thatfo few inftances of pilfering and robbery happened
confidering the great opportunities there were ior
fuch things : we do not know of more than five bhick
people, fufpe&ed of any thing clandtftine, out of the
great number employed ; the people -were glad to
get any perfon to allift them< — a black was prcitned,
becaufe it was fuppofed, they were not fo likely t«
take the diforder, the moft worthlefs were accepta-
ble, fo that it would have been no cau(e of wondei
if twenty caufes of complaint occurred, for one tha
hath. It has been alledged, that many of the fick,
were neglected by the ■ liurfes ; we do not wonder at
it, confidering their fituation, in many inftances, up
night and day, without any one to relieve them, worn
down with fatigue, and want of fleep, they could not'
in many cafes, render that alfifbnee, which was need-
ful : where wevifited, the caufes of complaint on this
fcore, were not numerous. The cafe of the nurfes,
in many inftances, were deferving of commifcration,
the patient raging and frightful to behold ; it has fre-
quently required two perfon s, to hold them from rim-
ing away, others have made attempts to jump out of a
window*, in many chambers they were nailed down,
and the door was kept locked, to prevent them from
running away, or breaking their necks, ctherslay vo-
miting blood, and (creaming enough to chill them with
horror. Thus were many of the nurfes circuriiftanced,
alone, until the patient died, then called away to an-
other fcene of diftrefs, and thus have been for a week
or ten days left to do the beft they could without any
fufficient reft, many of them having fome of their
deareft connections fick at the time, and fuffering for
want, while their hufband, wife, father, mother, &c.
have been engaged in the fervice of the white people.
We mention thi$ to fliew the difference between this

A NARRATIVE, &o 15

and nurfing in common cafes, we have fuffered equal-
ly with the whites, our diftrefs hath been very great,
but much unknown to the white people. Few have
been the whites that paid attention to us while the
black were engaged in the other's fervice- We can
allure the public we have taken four and five black
people in a day to be buried. In feveral inftances
when they have been feized with the ficknefs while
nurfing, they have been turned out of the houfe, and
wandering and deftitute until taking fhelter wherever
they could (as many of them would not be admitted
to their former homes) they have languished alone and
we know of one who even died in a (table- Others
acted with more tendernefs, when their nurfes were
taken fick they had proper care taken of them at their
houfes. We know of two inftances of this.

It is even to this day a generally received opinion
in this city, that our colour was not fo liable to the
ficknefs as the whites. We hope our friends will par-
don us for fetting this matter in its true ftate.

The public were informed that in the Weft-Indies
and other places where this terrible malady had been,
it was obferved the blacks were not affected with it-
Happy would it have been for you, and much more
fo for us, if this obfervation had been verified by our
experience.

When the people of colour had the ficknefs and died,
we were impofed upon and told it was not with the
prevailing ficknefs, until it became too notorious to be
denied, then we were toldfome few died but not many.
Thus vvere our fervices extorted at the peril of our lives,
yet you accufe us of extorting a little money from you.
The bill of mortality for the year 1793, publifhed
by Matthew Whitehead, and John Crmrod, clerks,
and Jofeph Dolby, fexton, will convince any reason-
able man that will examine it, that as many coloured
people died in proportion as others. In 1792, there
B2

... _ _j, ~..u muo j>uu*iwjr lininic

*>3

16 A NARRATIVE, fc

were 67 of our colour buried, and in 1793 it amount-
ed to 305 ; thus the burials among us have increaled
more than fourfold, was not this in a great degree
the effeds of the fervices of the unjuftly vilified black
people ?

Perhaps it may be acceptable to the reader to know
how we found the fick affecled by the Iicknefs; our
opportunities of hearing and feeing them have been
very great. They were taken with a chill, a head-
ach, a lick ilomach, with pains in their limbs and back,
this was the way the iicknefs in general began, but
all were not affected alike, fome appeared but (lightly
affected with fome of thef'e fymptoms, what confirmed
us in the opinion of a perfon being l'mitten was the co-
Jour of their eyes. In fome it raged more furioufly
than in others — fome have languifhed for feven and
ten days, and appeared to get better the day, or fome
hours before they died, while others were cut ofF in
one, two, or three days, but their complaints were ii-
milar. Some loft their reafon and raged with all the
fury madnefs could produce, and died in ftrong con-
vulfions. Others retained their reafon to the laft,
and feemed rather to fall afleep than die. We could
not help remarking that the former were of ftrong
palfions, and the latter of a mild temper. Numbers
died in a kind of dejeftion, they concluded they mufl
go, (ib the phrafe for dying was) and therefore in a
kind of fixed determined ftate of mind went off*.

It ftruck our minds with awe, to have application
jnade by thole in health, to take charge of them in
their iicknefs, and of their funeral. Such applications
have been made to us ; many appeared as though they
thought they muft die, and not live; fome have lain
on the floor, to be meafured for their coffin and grave.
A gentleman called one evening, to requeft a good
nurfe might be got for him, when he was fick, and to
iuperiatend his funeral, and gave particular directions

A NARRATIVE, &c 17

now he would have it conducted, it feemed a furpri-
iing circumilance, for the man appeared at the time, ro-
be in perfect health, but calling two or three days af-
ter to fee him, found a woman dead in the houfe, and
the man fo far gone, that to adminifter any thing for
his recovery, was needlcfs — he died, that evening.
We mention this, as an inflance of the dejection and
defpondence, that took hold on the minds of thoufands,
and are of opinion, it aggravated, the cafe of many,
while others who bore up chearfully, got up again>
that probably would otherwise have died.

When the mortality came to its greateft ftage, it
Was impoflible to procure lufficient afliftance, there-
fore many whofe friends, and relations had left them,
died unfeen,and< irnaffifted. We have found them in va-
rious Situations, fome laying on the floor, as bloody as
if they had been dipt in it, without any appearance of
their having had, even a drink of water for their re- .
lief ; others laying on a bed with their clothes on, as
if they had came in fatigued, and lain down to reft;
fome appeared, as if they had fallen dead on the floor,
from- the pofition we found them in.

Truly our talk was hard, yet through mercy, we
were enabled to go on.

One thing we obferved in feveral inftances- — when
we were called, on the firft appearance of the diforder
to bleed, the perfon frequently, on the opening a vein
before the operation was near over, felt a change for
the better, and exprefl'ed a relief in their chief com-
plaints; and we made it a practice to take more blood .
from them, than- is ufual in other cafes ; thefe in a
genera] way recovered ; thofe who did omit bleeding
any confiderable time, after being taken by the lick-
nefs, rarely exprefl'ed any change they felt in the ope-
ration.

We feel a great fatisfaction in believing, that we
have been ufeful-to the lick, and thus publicly thank

B3

i8 A N ARR ATI VE, &c.

Doftor Ru(h, for enabling us to be fo. We have bled
upwards of eight hundred people, and do declare, we
have not received to the value of a dollar and a half,
therefor : we were willing to imitate the Doctor's be-
nevolence, who fick or well, kept his houfe open day
and night, to give what afliftance he could in this time
of trouble.

Several affecting inftances occurred, when we were
engaged in burying the dead. We have been called to
bury fome, who when we came, we found alive ; at
other places we found a parent dead, and none but
little innocent babes to be feen, whole ignorance led
them to think their parent was afleep ; on account of
their ill uation, and their little prattle, we have been fo
wounded and our feelings fo hurt, that we almoffc
concluded to withdraw from our undertaking, but fee-
ing others fo backward, we ftill went on.

An affecting inftance — A woman died, we were
fent for to bury her, on our going into the houfe and
taking the coffin in, a dear little innocent accolted us,
with, mamma is afleep, don't wake her ; but wh^n fhe
fawusputher in the coffin, 'the diftrefs of the child was
fo great, that it almoft overcame us; when fhe de-
manded why we put her mamma in the box? We did
not know how to anfwer her, but committed her to
the care of a neighbour, and left her with heavy
hearts- In other places where we have been to take
the corpfe of a parent, and have found a group of lit-
tle ones alone, fome of them in a meafure capable of
knowing their fituation, their cries and the innocent
confufion of the little ones, feemed almoft too much
for human nature to bear. We have picked up little
children that were wandering they knew not where,
whofe (parents were cut off) and taken them to the
orphan houfe, for at this time the dread that prevail-
ed over people's minds was fo general, that it was a
rare inftance to fee one neighbour vifit another, and

A NARRATIVE, &c 19

tven friends when they met in the ftreets were afraid
of each other, much lefs would they admit into their
houfes the diltrefled orphan that had been where the
iicknefs was ; this extreme feemed in fome inftances
tohavetheappearance of barbarity ; with reluctance we
call to mind the many opportunities there were in the
powerof individuals to be ufeful to their fellow-men, yet
through the terror of the times was omitted. A black .
man riding through the ftreer, faw a man pufh a wo-
man out of the houfe, the woman ftaggered and fell
on her face in the gutter, and was not able to turn
herfelf, the black man thought ihe was drunk, but
obferving ihe was in danger of fuftocation alighted,
and taking the woman up found her perfectly lober,
but fo far gone with the diforder that me was not able
to help herfelf j the hard hearted man that threw her
down, fhut the door and left her — in fuch a fituation,
me might have perifhed in a few minutes ; we heard
of it, and took her to Bum-hilL Many of the white
people, that ought to be patterns for us to follow af-
ter, have acted in a manner that would make humani-
ty ihudder. We remember an inftance of cruelty,
which we truft, no black man would be guilty of : two-
fifters orderly, decent, white women were fick with
the fever, one of them recovered fo as to come to the
door ; a neighbouring white man faw her, and in an
anory tone afked her if her fifter was dead or not >
She anfwered no, upon which he replied, damn her,
if Ihe don't die before morning, I will make her die.
The poor woman mocked at fuch an expreflion, from
this monfter of a ,man, made a modeft reply, upon
which he fnatched up a tub of water, and would have
dafhed it over her, if he had not been prevented by a
black man ; he then went and took a couple of fowls
out of a coop, (which had been given them for nou-
rifliment) and threw them into an open alley ; he had
his wiih, the poor woman that he would make die,

20 A NARRATIVE, &o

died rh.it night. A white man threatened to fhoot us>
if we palled by his home with a torpfe : we buried
him three days after.

We have been pained to fee the widows come to us,
crying and wringing their hands, and in very great
diftrefs, on account of their hufbands' death ; having
nobody to help them, they were obliged to come to
get their hufbands buried, their neighbours were afraid
to go to their help or to condole with them ; we afcribe
fuch unfriendly con duel to the frailty of human nature,
and not to wilful unkindnefs, or hardnefs of heart.

Notwithstanding the compliment Mr. Carey hath
paid us, we have found reports fpread, of our taking
between one, and two hundred beds, from houfes where
people died'; fuch llanderers as thefe, who propagate
fuch wilful lies are dangerous, although unworthy no-
tice. We with if any perfon hsth the lealt fufpicion
of us, they would endeavour to bring us to thepunifh-
ment which fuch atrocious conducl mull deferve ; and
by this means, the innocent will be cleared from re-
proach, and the guilty known.

We mail-now conclude with the following old pro-
verb, which we think applicable to thofe of our colour
who expofed their, lives in the late a ffli cling difpenfa-
tion : —

God and a foldier, all men do adore,

In time of war, and not before ;

When the war is over, and all things righted^

God is forgotten, and the foldier flighted*

A NARRATIVE, &c. 12

To MATTHEW CLARKSON, Esq.
Mayor of the City of Philadelphia'
SIR,

F

O R the per fori al refpeft we bear you, and for
the fatisfaction of the Mayor, we declare, that to the
bell of our remembrance we had the care of the fol-
lowing beds and no more. —

Two belonging to James Starr we buried ; upon
taking them up, we found one damaged; the blankets,
&c. belonging to it were flolen ; it was refufed to be
accepted of by his fon Mofes ; it was buried again, and
remains fo for ought we know ; the other was return-
ed and accepted of.

We buried two belonging to Samuel Fifher, mer-
chant ; one of them was taken up by us, to carry a fick
perfon on to Bufh-hill, and there left ; the other was
buried in a grave, under a corpfe.

Two beds were buried for Thomas Willing, one
fix feet deep in his garden, and lime and water thrown •
upon it ; the other was in the Potter's field, and fur-
ther knowledge of it we have not.

We burned one bed with other furniture, and cloath-
ing belonging to the late Mayor, Samuel Powel, on
his farm on the weft fide of Schuylkill river; — we bu-
ried one of his beds.

For Dickenfon, we buried a bed in a lot of,

Richard Allen ; which we have good caufe to believe,
was ifolen.

One bed was buried for a perfon in front flreet,
whole name is unknown to us, it was buried in the
Potter's field, by a perfon employed for the purpofe ;
we told him he might take it up again after it had
been buried a week, and apply it to his own ule, as he

22 A NARRATIVE, &c

faid he had lately been difcharged from the hofpital

and had none to jay on.

Thomas Leiper's two beds were buried in the Pot-
ter's field, and remained there a week, and then taken
up by ns, for the uie of the iick that we took to Bufh-
hill, and left there.

We buried one for Smith, in the Potter's

field, which was returned except the furniture, which
we believe was ftolen.

One other we buried for Davis, in Vine ftreet,

it was buried near Schuylkill, and we believe conti-
nues fo.

A bed from Guefts in Second ftreet, was buried

in the Potter's field, and is there yet, for any thing
we know.

One bed we buried in the Prefbyterian burial ground
the corner of Pine and Fourth ftreets, and we believe
"was taken up by the owner, Thomas Mitchel.

Millegan in Second ftreet, had a bed buried

by us in the Potter's field — we have no further know-
ledge of it.

This is a true ftate of matters refpedting the beds,
as far as we were concerned, we never undertook the
charge of more than their burial, knowing they were
liable to be taken away by evil minded perfons. We
think it beneath the dignity of an honeft man, (although
injured in his reputation by wicked and-envious perfons)
to vindicate or fupport his character, by an oath or le-
gal affirmation ; we fear not our enemies, let them
come forward with their charges, we will not flinch,
and if they ean fix any crime upon us, we refufe not
to fuffer. ■
Sir,

You have caufe to believe our lives were endanger-
ed in more cafes than one, in the time of the late
mortality, and that we were fo difcouraged, that had
it not been for your perfuafion, we would have relin-

A NARRATIVE, &c. 23

quifhed our difagreeable and dangerous employment —
and we hope there is no impropriety in foliating a cei .
tificate of your approbation of our conduct, fo far as
it hath come to your knowledge.

With an affectionate regard and efteem,
We are your friends,

ABSALOM JONES.
January 7th 1794. RICHARD ALLEN.

H

AVING, during the prevalence of the late ma-
lignant diforder, had aluoft daily opportunities of
■feeing the conduct, of Abfalom Jones and Richard
Allen, and the people employed by them, to bury the
dead — I with cheerfulnefs give this teflimony of my
approbation of their proceedings, as far as the fame
came under my notice. Their diligence, attention
and decency of deportment, afforded me, at the time,
much fatisfaction.

MATTHEW CLARKSON, Mayor.
llviad-'lphia, fdnuary 23, 1794-

An Addrefs to thofe ivbo keep Slaves, and approve the
practice.

X HE judicious part of mankind will think it un-
reafonable> that a fuperiorgood conduct is looked for,
from our race, by thofe who ftigmatize us as men,
whole bafeneis is incurable, and may therefore be held
in a {late of fervitude, that a merciful man would not
doom a beaft to ; yet you try what you can to prevent
our riling from the ftate of barbariim, you reprefent
us to be in, but we can teil you,, from a degree of ex-
perience, that a black man, although reduced to the
moll abject ftate human nature is capable of, lb or t of
real madnefs, can think, reflect, and feel injuries, al-
though it may not be with the fame degree of keen
refentment and revenge, that you who have been and

24 A NARRATIVE, tec

are our great oppreffors, would manifeft if reduced to
the pitiable condition of a Have. We believe if you
would try the experiment of taking a few black chil-
dren, and cultivate their minds with the fame care,
and let them have the fame profpeel: in view, as to
living in the world, as you would wifh f or 31 our own
children, you would find upon the trial, they were not
inferior in mental endowments.

We do not wifh to make you angry, but excite your
attention to confider, how hateful flavery is in the
ight of that God, who hath deftroyed kings and
princes, for their oppreffion of the poor flaves ; Pha-
raoh and his princes with the pofterity of king Saul,
were deftroyed by the protector and avenger of flaves.
Would you notfuppofe the Ifraelites to be utterly un-
fit for freedom, and that it was impoffible for them to
attain to any degree of excellence? Their hdtory
fhews how flavery had debafed their fpirits. Men
mufl be wilfully blind and extremely partial, that can-
not fee the contrary effects of liberty and flavery upon
the mind of man ; we freely confefs the vile habits of-
ten acquired in a ftate of fervitude, are not eafily
thown off; the example of the Ifraelites fhews, who
with all that Mofes could do to reclaim them from it,
ftill continued in their former habits more or lef's ; and
why will you look for better from us? Why will you
look for grapes from thorns, or figs from thirties ? It
is in our pofterity enjoying the fame privileges with
your own, that you ought to look for better things.

When you are pleaded with, do not you reply as
Pharaoh did, " wherefore do ye Mofes and Aaron, let
the people from their work, behold the people of the
land, now are many, and you make them reft from
their burdens." We wifh you to confider, that God
himfelf was the firft pleader of the caufe of flaves.

That God who knows the hearts of all men, and the
propenfity of a flave to hate his oppreffor, hath (trip-
ly forbidden if to his chofen people, " thou fhalt not

A NARRATIVE, &c 25

abhor an Egyptian, becaufe thou waft a ftranger in
his land. Deut. xxiii. 7." i he meek and humble;
Jefus, the great pattern of humanity, and every other
virtue that can adorn and dignify men, hath command-
ed to love our enemies, to do good to thein that hate
and defpitefully ufe us. We feel the obligations, we
wiih to imprefs them on the minds of our black bre-
thren, and that we may all forgive you, as we wifh.
to be forgiven ; we think it a great mercy to have .all
anger and bitternefs removed from our minds ; we
appeal to your own feelings, if it is not very difquiet-
ing to feel yourfelves under the dominion of a wrath-
ful difpofition.

If you love your children, if you love your country,
if you love the God of love, clear your hands from
Haves, burden not your children or country with them-
Our hearts have been forrowful for the latebloodfhed
of the opprefTbrs, as well as the opprelTed, both ap-
pear guilty of each others blood, in the fight of him
who laid, he that fheddeth man's blood, by man fhall
his blood be ihed.

Will you, becaufe you have reduced us to the un-
happy condition our colour is in, plead our incapacity
for freedom, and our contented condition under op-
preflion, as a fufficient caufe for keeping us under the
grievous yoke? We have ihewn the caufe of our inca-
pacity, we will alf'o fhew, why we appear contented ;
were we to attempt to* plead with our matters, it would
be deemed infolence, for which caufe they appear as
contented as they can in your fight,, but the dreadful
infurredtions they have made, when opportunity has- -
offered, -is enough to convince a reafonable man, that
great unejfinefs and not contentment, is the inhabitant
of their hearts.

God himfelf hath pleaded their caufe, he hath from
time to time railed up inftruments for that ; purpofe,
fometimes mean and contemptible in your fight- at 0*
ther times he hath ufed fuch as it hath jjpleafcd hiiir*

26 A NARRATIVE, &c»

■with whom you have not thought it beneath your dig-
Jiity to contend, many have been convinced of theif
error, condemned their former conduct, and become
zealous advocates for the caufe of thole, whom you
will not fufFer to plead for themfelves.

To the People of Colour.

FEELING an engagement of mind for your welfare, we
addrefs you with an affeaionate fympathy, having been
ourfelves flaves, and as defirous of freedom as any of
you ; yet the bands of bondage were fo ftrong, that no way
appeared for our releafe, yet at times a hope arofe in our
hearts that a way would open for it, and when our minds
were mercifully vifited with the feeling of the love of God,
then thefe hopes increafed, and a confidence arofe that he
would make way for our enlargement, and as a patient
waiting was neceflary, we were fomctimes favoured with
it, at other times we were very impatient, then the prof-
pect of liberty altnoft vauiihed away, and we were in dark-
nefs and perplexity.

We mention our experience to you, that your hearts may
not fink at the difcouraging profpedls you may have, and
that you may put your truft in God, who fees your condition;,
and as a merciful father pitieth his children, fo doth God
pity them that love him ; and as your hearts are inclined to
Serve God, you will feel an affectionate regard towards your
matters and miftrefTes, and the whole family where you live,
this will be feen by them, and tend to promote your liberty,
efpecially with fuch as have feelingmafters, and if they are
otherwife you will have the favour and love of God dwell-
ing in your hearts, which you will value more than any
thing elfe, which will be a conization in the worft conditi-
on you can be in, and no matter can deprive you of it ; and
as life is (hort and uncertain, and the chief end of our hav-
ing a being in this world, is to be prepared for abetter, we
wiih you to think of this more than any thing elle : then
will you have a view of that freedom which the ions of God
«-nioy ; and if the troubles of your condition end with your
lives you will be admitted to the freedom which God hath
prepared for thofe of all colours that love him ; here tb«

A NARRATIVE, ko 17

j>ower of the mod cruel matter ends, and all forrow and
tears are wiped away.

To you who are favoured with freedom, let your condudfc
manifed your gratitude toward the companionate matter*
who have fet you free, and let no rancour or ill-will lodge
in your breads for any bad treatment you may have receiv-
ed from any ; ifyou do, youtranfgrefs againd God, who will
not holdy ou guiltlefs, he would not fuffer it even in his beloved
people Ifrael, and can you think he will allow it unto us?

There is much gratitude due from our colour towards the
white people, very many of them are indruments m the
hand of God for our good, even fuchas have held us in cap-
tivity, are now pleading our caufe with earnednefs and
zeal ; and we are forry to fay, that too many think more
pf the evil, than of the good they have received, and in-
ftead of taking the advice of their friends, turn from it with
indifference ; much depends upon us for the help of our co-
lour more than many are aware ; if we are lazy and idle,
the enemies of freedom plead it as a caufe why we ought not
to be free, and fay we are better in a (late of fervitude, and
that giving us our liberty would be an injury to us, and by
fuch conduct we derngthen the bands of oppreffion, and
keep many in bondage who are more worthy than ourfelves ;
weintreatyou to condder the obligations We L-iy under,
to help forward the caufe of freedom, we who know how
bitter the cup is of which the Have hath to drink, O how
ought we to feel forthofe who yet remain in bondage ? Will
even our friends excufe, will God pardon us, for the part
we aft in making drong the hands of the enemies of our
colour.

A fliort Addrefs to the Friends of Him who hath no Helper^

WE feel an inexprefllble gratitude towards you, who
have engaged in the caufe of the African race ; yon
have wrought a deliverance for many, from more than E-
gyptian bondage, your labours are unremitted for their
complete redemption, from the cruel fubjection they are in.
You feel onr afflictions — you fympathize with us in the heart-
rending dillrefs, when the hufband is feparated from the wife,
and the parents from the children, who are nevermore to
sneet.ni this world. The tear of fenfibility trickles from
your eye, to fee the fuiferings that keep us from increa-

28 A NARRATIVE, &c

ling. — Your righteous indignation is roufed at the mean»
taken to fupply the place of the murdered babe. You fee
our race more effe&ually deftroyed, than was in Pharaoh's
power to effect., upon Ifrael'sfons; you blow the trumpet
againft the mighty evil, you make the tyrants tremble ; you
drive to raife the flave, to the dignity of a man ; you take,
our children by the baud, to lead them in the path of vir-
tue, 6y your care of their education ; you are not afhamed
to call the mod abjecT: of our race, brethren, children of one
father, who made of one blood all the nations of the earth :
You aik for this, nothing for yourfelves, nothing but what
is worthy the caufe you are engaged in ; nothing but that
we would be friends toourfelves, and not ftrengthen the
bands of oppreffion, by an evil conduct, when led out of the
houfe of bondage. IVIay he, who hath arifen to plead our
caufe, and engaged you as volunteers in the fervice, add to
your numbers, until the princes mall come forth from Egypt,,
snd Ethiopia ftretchout her hand unto God.

ABS iLOM JONES,
RICHARD AJLLEN.

YE Minifters, that are call'd to preaching,
Teachers, and exhorters too ;
Awake ! behold your barveft wafting !
A rife there is no reft for you.

To think upon that ftrict commandment,

Tnut God has on his teachers laid,
The Tinner's blood, who dies unwarned,

Shall fall upon their Shepherd's head.

But oh ! dear brethren, let's be doing,

Behold the nation's in diftrefs,
The Lord of Hofts forbid their ruin,

Before the day of grace is paft.

We read of wars and great commotions,

Bef >re the great and dreadful day,
Oh, Sinners ! turn yourfinful courfes,

And trifle not your time away.
But Oh ! dear finners, that's not all that's dreadful!

You muft before your God appea* !
To give an account of your tranfaclions,

And how you (pent your time, When here.

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